FBI Arrest Members of Alabama Drug Ring Charged with Trafficking Heroin and Other Drugs

FBI agents on Wednesday arrested five of six Jefferson County, Alabama, men indicted by a federal grand jury in November on charges they operated an illegal organization trafficking heroin, cocaine, prescription painkillers and other drugs in the western part of the county.

The sixth defendant already was in custody in Jefferson County on state charges related to the drug-trafficking organization.

Arrested were Spriggs, Watson, Abernathy, Edwards and Bell. Scott was already in custody.

According to the indictment, Spriggs, Watson and Abernathy are charged with trafficking more than 1,000 grams of heroin as part of the conspiracy, and Scott’s, Bell’s and Edwards’ participation in the conspiracy involved more than 100 grams of heroin.

Count 2 of the indictment charges Spriggs and Watson with possessing and intending to distribute heroin and oxycodone from a Fairfield, Alabama, house located within 1,000 feet of a public school, Fairfield High School, on July 17.

Count 3 charges Spriggs, Scott and Watson with possessing and intending to distribute heroin on August 8.

The remaining 11 counts variously charge all defendants, except Scott, with using a telephone to facilitate a drug-trafficking crime.

The indictment seeks a forfeiture judgment of at least $1 million from the defendants as proceeds of illegal activity.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute drugs illegally is 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 grams of heroin carries a penalty of 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine, and conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin carries a penalty of five to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine.

The maximum penalty for possessing with intent to distribute heroin or oxycodone is 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The maximum penalty doubles for distribution within 1,000 feet of a school.

The maximum penalty for using a telephone to facilitate a drug-trafficking crime is four years in prison and a $250,000 fine.